Umbrella support

ABSTRACT

An umbrella support including an elongated post and a pivot plate secured to one end of the elongated post. A support tube has a slot at one of its ends that snugly receives the pivot plate. A threaded fastener penetrates the tube and the pivot plate to pivotally attach the tube to the elongated post.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to staff-type supports with angular adjustment features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many individuals utilize umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun in treeless areas. Unfortunately, umbrellas deprive those carrying them of the use of at least one hand. To reduce the severity of this problem, some individuals have proposed supports for hands-free umbrella use. These supports have not seen widespread commercial acceptance since they have been generally complex in their construction, costly to manufacture, and cumbersome to use. A need, therefore, exists for an uncomplicated, inexpensive and easy-to-use umbrella support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In light of the problems associated with the known umbrella supports, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an umbrella support that is uncomplicated, inexpensive and easy-to-use. The inventive support can be set up and taken down in seconds with minimal training and without any tools. An umbrella need not be removed from the support, after use, for convenient storage in a compact condition.

[0004] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an umbrella support of the type described that may be employed to retain an umbrella at a user-selected incline. The incline can be adjusted within a wide range of motion.

[0005] It is a further object of the invention to provide an umbrella support that strongly, yet releasably, grips an umbrella during use. Thus, wind gusts cannot carry a supported umbrella away.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an umbrella support for the purposes described which is lightweight in construction and dependable in use.

[0007] Briefly, the umbrella support in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring an elongated post having both a ground-penetrating spike and a step secured to the bottom thereof. An upright pivot plate is secured to the top of the post and is snugly fitted within a slot provided in one end of a support tube. The tube has an opening remote from the slot into which may be inserted the handle of an umbrella. A pair of gripping blocks is positioned within the tube on opposite sides of the pivot plate to distribute loads and prevent collapse of the tube. A bolt penetrates the tube, gripping blocks and pivot plate. A wing nut threaded on the bolt permits the incline of the tube relative to the post to be selectively varied. A clip is pivotally fastened to the tube to prevent wind gusts from unintentionally removing an umbrella handle from the tube.

[0008] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of an umbrella support in accordance with the present invention with portions broken away to reveal details thereof.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front view of the umbrella support of FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a side view of the umbrella support at a reduced scale and in an opened configuration shown holding an opened umbrella.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a side view of the umbrella support at a reduced scale and in a closed configuration shown holding a closed umbrella.

[0014] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring now to the FIGS., an umbrella support in accordance with the present invention is shown at 10. Support 10 includes an elongated post 12 having both a step 14 and a ground-penetrating spike 16 secured to its bottom. Secured to the top of post 12 is an upright pivot plate 18. Pivot plate 18 is snugly received within a slot 20 provided that the inner end of a support tube 22. Semi-cylindrical gripping blocks 24 are positioned within tube 22 on opposite sides of plate 18. Adjacent slot 20, a bolt 26 passes transversely through tube 22, blocks 24 and plate 18.

[0016] A wing nut 28 on bolt 26 permits the orientation of tube 22 relative to post 12 to be selectively varied and fixed. A clip 30 is fastened to the outer end of tube 22 to retain the handle 32 of an umbrella 34 within tube 22 during use.

[0017] Clip 30 is formed from a length of stiff wire so as to be provided with a central retaining portion 36 for positioning over the open outer end of tube 22 and a pair of lateral pivoting portions 38 for connecting retaining portion 36 to tube 22. As shown, retaining portion 36 is U-shaped and has a pair of opposed legs 40 spaced so as to permit passage of the central shaft 42 of umbrella 34 but not to permit passage of the relatively wider handle 32. Pivoting portions 38, however, are C-shaped and oriented at right angles to retaining portion 36. Each pivoting portion 38 has an inner end secured to a respective one of legs 40 and an outer end journaled within a close-fitting aperture 44 in tube 22. Thus, retaining portion 36 can be selectively pivoted into engagement with umbrella 34.

[0018] Use of umbrella support 10 is straightforward. First, wing nut 28 is rotated to loosen its grip on tube 22 and to permit tube 22 to be pivoted on plate 18 to a desired inclination. After pivoting tube 22, nut 28 is tightened to lock tube 22 in place. Then, clip 30 is pivoted to the broken line position of FIG. 1 and umbrella handle 32 is inserted into tube 22. By moving clip 30 to the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, opened umbrella 34 is locked at an incline relative to post 12. Pressing downwardly on step 14 drives spike 16 into the ground thereby supporting umbrella 34 at an incline above the ground. After use, umbrella 34 may be closed and pivoted against post 12 as shown in FIG. 4 for convenient storage.

[0019] While the invention has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. An umbrella support, comprising: an elongated post; a pivot plate secured to one end of said post; a support tube having a slot at one end thereof, said slot snugly receiving said pivot plate therein; and, a threaded fastener penetrating said tube and said pivot plate for pivotally attaching said tube to said post.
 2. The umbrella support according to claim 1 further comprising a clip pivotally fastened to said tube for engaging the central shaft of an umbrella and retaining the relatively wider handle of the umbrella within said tube.
 3. The umbrella support according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of gripping blocks positioned within said tube on opposite sides of said pivot plate for squeezing said plate when said threaded fastener is tightened.
 4. An umbrella support, comprising: an elongated post; a ground-penetrating spike secured to the bottom of said post; an upright pivot plate secured to the top of said post; a support tube having opposed ends and a slot adjacent to one end thereof, said slot snugly receiving said pivot plate therein, said tube having an opening in the end thereof remote from said slot; a pair of gripping blocks positioned within said tube on opposite sides of said pivot plate; a bolt penetrating said tube, said gripping blocks and said pivot plate; and, a wing nut in threaded engagement with said bolt.
 5. The umbrella support according to claim 4 further comprising a step secured to said post adjacent said spike for driving said spike into the ground by means of pressure exerted by a foot atop said step.
 6. The umbrella support according to claim 4 further comprising a clip pivotally fastened to said tube for engaging the central shaft of an umbrella and retaining the relatively wider handle of the umbrella within said tube.
 7. The umbrella support according to claim 6 wherein said clip includes: a U-shaped retaining portion adapted to snugly engage the central shaft of an umbrella; and, a pair of pivoting portions each being secured at one end thereof to said U-shaped retaining portion and being journaled at the other end thereof to said tube, said pivoting portions permitting said retaining portion to be selectively positioned in registry with said opening in said tube.
 8. An umbrella support, comprising: an elongated post; a ground-penetrating spike secured to the bottom of said post; a step secured to said post adjacent said spike; an upright pivot plate secured to the top of said post; a support tube having opposed ends and a slot adjacent to one end thereof, said slot snugly receiving said pivot plate therein, said tube having an opening in the end thereof remote from said slot; a pair of gripping blocks positioned within said tube on opposite sides of said pivot plate; a bolt penetrating said tube, said gripping blocks and said pivot plate; a wing nut in threaded engagement with said bolt; and, a clip pivotally fastened to said tube and having a U-shaped retaining portion for keeping a portion of an umbrella within said tube. 